Heads of secondary schools have suggested that learners should report back with Covidex, a drug recently approved for the treatment of COVID-19 as they wait for schools to reopenin next month.
According to the chairman of the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHTU), Martin Okiria, if Covidex is made mandatory for learners, it could assist in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and prevent further spread of the virus.
Okiria said this during a virtual stakeholders meeting hosted by the Ministry of Education that took place on Monday.
“We think that students should be asked to come with at least 3 bottles each, so that if one develops symptoms they can take the Covidex. We think that this will help,” Okiria said.
Okiria further suggested that school reopening should not depend on a certain number of teachers vaccinated because teachers can still continue to get vaccinated while schools reopen and operate.
The meeting was hosted by Ismael Mulindwa, the Assistant Commissioner of Private Schools Policy Regulations at the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Other stakeholders who attended the meeting included; the education secretaries of schools foundation bodies, General Secretary federation of non-state education institutions in Uganda, General Secretary proprietors of Private Education Institutions Association, General Secretary Uganda National Teachers Union and the General Secretary of Coalition of Uganda private schools .
